Snow fence lifter



Aug. 18, 1931. J. H. SOEFFKER SNOW FENCE LIFTER Filed May 51, 1929ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 18, 1931 UNITED STATES JOHN H. SOEFFKER, OFARLINGTON, MINNESOTA snow FENCE LIFTER Application filed May 31, 1929.Serial No. 367,531.

This invention relates to lifting apparatus primarily designed forelevating snow drift fences and the like.

An object of the invention comprehends 6 the provision and arrangementof a support for the lifting apparatus.

An additional object of the invention contemplates a grapple for thelifting apparatus.

More specifically stated the support is provided with snow or groundengaging feet disposed and shaped in such manner as to preventpenetration of the surface thereof whereby considerable leverage will bepermitted to the lifting apparatus.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention further consistsof the following novel features and details of construction, to behereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing and pointed out in the appended claim.

In the drawing The illustration is a perspective view of the inventionwhile in use.

Referring to the drawing in detail wherein like characters of referencedenote corresponding parts, the reference characters 10 and 11 indicatecompanion supporting legs having openings 12 horizontally disposedtherethrough at spaced intervals in the lengths thereof to accommodate acommon fastening or bolt 13 through a pair of the registering openingssubsequent to the 1ntersecting relationship of the legs, as shown.

The crotch, as defined by the intersecting of the legs 10 and 11,provides a fulcrum point for an eccentrically arranged lever 14.

Feet or ground engaging portions 15 of relatively wide formation arejoined upon their upper sides and at intermediate points in the lengthsthereof of the adjacent depending ends of the legs 10 and 11. Braces orbrackets, such as indicated at 16, obliquely disposed upon the opposedside portions of the legs,,are adapted to establish connectiontherebetween with the feet 15 to prevent distortion of the latter,incident to use. A single tree 17, having a yoke 18 pivotally mountedadjacent its middle, carries a ring or link 19 adapted to accommodatethe end of a hook 20 vertically disposed within the adjacent end of thelever 14. Grapples, in the nature of rods 21, having eyes 22 upon theiruppermost ends for swivel connection within the heads of eye bolts 23,terminate to provide open hook portions 2 1 reversely disposed toaccommodate those portions of the binding wire interlaced between thestaves or pickets of a snow drift or other temporary form of fence.

As generally known, the aforementioned type of fence is arranged withinfields and other properties adjoining roadways and in parallelismtherewith to prevent snow from drifting and banking within gulches orforms of shelves cut away from hillsides and the like top provideroadways. In certain parts of the country, the snow fall isexceptionally heavy and where there is considerable open country near ahighway, the snow will be piled up in immense drifts incident to thevelocity of the wind attained while traveling over the open country.These drifts will entirely cover up the form of drift fenceaforementioned, and it is therefore necessary for highway partolmen todig out the fences and reset same at higher levels.

To overcome this digging out of fences, the present invention wasdesigned and which, due to the application thereof, is especially usefulfor this purpose. The feet 15 will dispose their flat surfaces to thesurface of the snow and will pack rather than penetrate same wherebyconsiderable leverage may be attained and great lifting power exercisedupon the single tree 17 and grapples 21 whereby the fence may beeffectively raised or otherwise elevated to a certain height to takecare of additional drifts. Chain members 25, having connection at theirends with those portions of the brackets or braces 16 engageable withthe feet 15, are in turn connected at intermediate points in the lengthsthereof with a chain 26 having rings 27 upon the end links thereofslidably mount'ed upon the chains 25 to obivate undue spreading apart ofthe feet 15.

The invention is susceptible of various changes in its form, proportionsand minor details of construction, and the right is herein reserved tomake such changes as properly fall within the scope of the appendedclaim.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is A liftingapparatus comprising pivotally associated intersecting leg membersforming a crotch, feet carried by and disposed at right angles upon thelowermost ends of the legs to pack rather than penetrate the surfaceengaged, a lever seated and fulcrumed within the crotch, a single treehaving connection with one end of the lever, grapples carried by anddepending from the extremities of the single tree, and meansestablishing connection at its ends with and between the adjacent feetto prevent undue spreading thereof incident to the pressure exercised bythe lever at the crotch defined at the intersection of the legs.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

JOHN H. SOEFFKER.

